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(No Moda.)

D. W. SHOLBS. BNVBLOPE OPENER'.

Patented'ApIj. l5. 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fricn.

DAVID XV. SHOLES, OF HAMPSHIRE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IIIMSELF ANDCHARLES H. BAOKUS, OF SAME PLACE.

ENvELoPE-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,587, dated April15, 1890. Application filed March 2l, 1889. Serial No. 304,117. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID YV. SHOLES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hampshire, in the county of Kane and State ot' Illi- 5 nois,have invented a new and useful Improvement in EnvelopeOpeners, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for opening envelopes.

The object of vmy invention is to provide an envelope-opener of asimple, efficient, and durable construction, by means of which a narrowstrip may be severed from the extreme end or edge of the envelopewithout danger or possibility of cutting or marring the contents of theenvelope, and which will operate rapidly and with ease and convenience.

My invention consists in the novel devices and novel combinations ofparts or devices herein shown and described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, andin which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all thefigures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a centra-l vertical longitudinal section, and Fig.3 is a front view.

In said drawings, A represents the baseblock, to which the frame Bissecured by screws o. The frame Bis furnished with upright standards Z),to which the stationary shear or knife C is secured by screws c. Theface of the knife or shear C tits against 'adjusting-screws c, by meansof which the cutting-edge of the knife maybe adjusted, so as to properlyco-operate with the movable knife D. One of the standards b is or may bemade somewhat longer than the other, as the knife C is set at a slightinclination, so as to give a shearing cut. This is clearly shown in Fig.3.

rlhe movable knife D is fixed on the end face of a lever or pivotedframe F, to which the table-plate G is attached by screws g. Thelever-frame F has a shoulder or recess f at its end, on or in which theshear D is secured by screws d, which are countersunk in the shear D, soas to be flush with the face thereof and not strike the edge of thestationary shear C. The frame or lever F is hinged or pivoted by a boltor pin f to the upright standards b on the main frame B. A spring l-I,secured to the frame B and bearing against the envelope-supporting plateG, serves to retract the movable shear after each cut.

The envelope-supporting plate or table G is furnished with an upwardlyprojecting guide flange or lip g at one side to properly 6o guide theenvelope.

K is the gage, against which the end ot the envelopes abut, and by whichthe width of the paper strip cut from the end of the envelope by theshears is regulated. This gage K is provided with flanges or lips le 7;,through which screws k pass to secure it in place on the frame B at. theend or mouth of the table or chute G, upon which the envelopes rest.This gage K preferably consists of a piece of 7o sheet or plate metal,and it is adjusted in respect to the knife D, so that only a narrow edgeof the envelope can project over the upper edge of the knife or sb earD.

To open an envelope all that is necessary is to lay it on the inclinedplate G and press down on the end of the plate, thus rotating the knifeD about its pivot f', and thus cutting ott a very narrow strip from theend of the envelope. The gage K prevents any in- 8o jury to the contentsof the envelope and insures the cutting of a uniform narrow strip fromthe envelope.

The table or glate G and frame or lever F are preferably made inseparate pieces, as S5 shown. j

The frame B is furnished with a stop Ui to limit the downward movementof the pivoted frame F.

I claim-- 9o l. The combination, with a gage, of a stationary shear, apivoted en velope-supporting plate, and a movable shear secured at theend of said plate, substantially as specified.

2. The combination,with a gage K, of a sta-4 95 tionary shear C, pivotedframe F, inclined envelope-supporting plate G, secured to said frame F,and movable shear D, secured to said pivoted frame F, substantially asspecified.

DAVID W. SHOLES.

Witnesses E. C. SHoLEs, E. G. BALL.

